Cambridge O Level
BIOLOGY
5090/11
Paper 1 Multiple Choice
May/June 2021
1 hour
You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.
*8832690463*
You will need: Multiple choice answer sheet
Soft clean eraser
Soft pencil (type B or HB is recommended)
INSTRUCTIONS
 There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions.
 For each question there are four possible answers A, B, C and D. Choose the one you consider correct
and record your choice in soft pencil on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Follow the instructions on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Write in soft pencil.
 Write your name, centre number and candidate number on the multiple choice answer sheet in the
spaces provided unless this has been done for you.
 Do not use correction fluid.
 Do not write on any bar codes.
 You may use a calculator.
INFORMATION
 The total mark for this paper is 40.
 Each correct answer will score one mark.
 Any rough working should be done on this question paper.
This document has 16 pages.
IB21 06_5090_11/4RP
© UCLES 2021
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1
2
Which structures are present in plant cells but not in animal cells?
A
cell membrane, cytoplasm, chloroplasts
B
cell wall, chloroplasts, sap vacuole
C
cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm
D
cytoplasm, nucleus, chloroplasts
A piece of plant tissue is transferred from a beaker of water into a concentrated sugar solution.
Which row describes what happens?
3
volume of tissue cells
A
into the cells
decreases
B
into the cells
increases
C
out of the cells
decreases
D
out of the cells
increases
Which statements about active transport are correct?
A
4
movement of water
1
Ions move from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration.
2
Ions move across the cell membrane.
3
Energy released during respiration is used to move ions into or out of a cell.
1, 2 and 3
B
1 and 2 only
C
1 and 3 only
D
2 and 3 only
What is a correct description of enzymes?
A
biological catalysts made of lipids
B
biological catalysts made of proteins
C
catalysts that slow down chemical reactions and are changed by the reaction
D
catalysts that speed up chemical reactions and are changed by the reaction
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5
An investigation was carried out into the effects of light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration
on the rate of photosynthesis.
Which graph shows the results of this investigation?
A
B
rate of
photosynthesis
rate of
photosynthesis
0
0
0
0
light intensity
light intensity
C
D
light
intensity
rate of
photosynthesis
0
0
0
0
light intensity
rate of photosynthesis
key
high carbon dioxide concentration
intermediate carbon dioxide concentration
low carbon dioxide concentration
6
What describes the upper cuticle of a leaf?
A
a permeable layer allowing water to enter the leaf
B
a single layer of cells containing many chloroplasts
C
a single layer of transparent cells allowing light to enter the leaf
D
a thin non-cellular layer preventing water loss from the leaf
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7
Plants growing in soil lacking magnesium ions have poor growth.
What causes their poor growth?
8
9
A
They cannot form cellulose for new cell walls.
B
They cannot form chlorophyll for photosynthesis.
C
They cannot produce amino acids to form proteins.
D
They cannot take in mineral ions from the soil.
Which statement about diets is correct?
A
A diet providing all the needs of an average man aged 70 can lead to malnutrition in an
active boy aged 14.
B
Malnutrition can only occur if the body receives less of a nutrient than it requires.
C
Protein requirements in the diet increase throughout a person’s life.
D
Very young children require a greater total energy intake than active adults.
The diagram shows part of the human alimentary canal and associated organs.
5
1
4
2
3
Which row describes the functions of parts shown in the diagram?
structure
function
structure
function
A
1
digestion of protein
3
absorption of the products
of digestion
B
2
emulsifying fats
3
absorption of amino
acids and glucose
C
4
production of bile
5
making digestive enzymes
D
4
storing digestive enzymes
2
making digestive enzymes
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10 What is not an example of assimilation?
A
synthesis of glycogen from glucose
B
synthesis of fats from fatty acids and glycerol
C
synthesis of glucose from starch
D
synthesis of proteins from amino acids
11 Which feature of a root hair cell helps it take up ions from water in the soil?
A
The cell has a partially permeable cell wall.
B
The cell is able to provide a source of energy.
C
The cell vacuole has a high ion concentration.
D
The cell vacuole has a low water potential.
12 The diagram shows the pathway of water molecules through part of a leaf, seen under a
microscope, in transverse section.
Where does water evaporate?
A
B
C
D
13 Which row describes the functions of the blood components?
plasma
platelets
white blood cells
A
antibody formation
clotting
transport of nutrients
B
clotting
transport of nutrients
antibody formation
C
clotting
antibody formation
transport of nutrients
D
transport of nutrients
clotting
antibody formation
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14 The diagram shows a section through the human heart.
valve 3
valve 2
valve 1
valve 4
chamber X
chamber Y
What will be the state of the valves when the walls of chambers X and Y are contracting?
valves
1
2
3
4
A
closed
open
open
closed
B
closed
open
closed
open
C
open
closed
open
closed
D
open
closed
closed
open
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15 The diagram represents the blood supply to the liver and to the kidneys.
1
2
liver
from
ileum
4
kidneys
3
Which vessels contain blood with the highest and lowest concentrations of urea?
highest
lowest
A
1
2
B
1
4
C
3
2
D
3
4
16 What is not a feature of aerobic respiration?
A
It occurs in both plants and animals.
B
It releases a smaller amount of energy than anaerobic respiration.
C
It requires the presence of oxygen.
D
The end products are carbon dioxide and water.
17 In an investigation, scientists treated plant roots with a chemical that stops aerobic respiration.
They observed that after the treatment the plant roots absorbed nitrate ions more slowly.
Which statement explains this observation?
A
Anaerobic respiration does not release energy.
B
The plant cells cannot respire.
C
There is less energy for active transport of nitrate ions.
D
There is less energy for diffusion of nitrate ions.
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18 Why does oxygen enter the blood in the lungs?
A
Aerobic respiration takes place in the lungs.
B
Carbon dioxide diffuses out of the blood into the alveoli.
C
The air in alveoli contains a higher concentration of oxygen than the blood in the lung
capillaries.
D
The air in alveoli contains a lower concentration of oxygen than the blood in the lung
capillaries.
19 The diagram shows structures in a human which form and store urine. Liquids pass through
tubes X, Y and Z in the directions shown by the arrows.
X
kidney
Y
Z
bladder
Which statement about the volume of liquid passing through Y in one day is correct?
A
It is greater than that passing through X.
B
It is less than that passing through Z.
C
It is much less than that passing through X but slightly greater than that passing through Z.
D
It is slightly less than that passing through X but much greater than that passing through Z.
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20 The diagram shows the homeostatic control of body temperature.
above normal
temperature
corrective
mechanisms P and Q
body temperature
increases
negative
feedback
normal body
temperature
coordinator
R
normal body
temperature
body temperature
decreases
negative
feedback
below normal
temperature
corrective
mechanisms
What are corrective mechanisms P and Q and coordinator R?
corrective mechanisms
coordinator R
P
Q
A
sweating
more blood flows close
to the skin surface
brain
B
sweating
more blood flows close
to the skin surface
skin
C
shivering
less blood flows close
to the skin surface
brain
D
shivering
less blood flows close
to the skin surface
skin
21 The diagram shows a section through the brain.
Which part of the brain secretes hormones?
D
C
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B
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22 Which changes occur in the eye when viewing a distant object?
A
1
The ciliary muscles contract.
2
The ciliary muscles relax.
3
The suspensory ligaments are pulled tight.
4
The suspensory ligaments are slackened.
1 and 3
B
1 and 4
C
2 and 3
D
2 and 4
23 The diagram shows three positions, X, Y and Z, where nerve impulses are blocked by a drug.
brain
spinal cord
sensory neurone
Z
X
Y
motor neurone
Which person listed below moves their leg in response to a pinprick, but does not feel it?
A
a person with a block at X
B
a person with a block at Y
C
a person with a block at Z
D
a person with no block
24 Which pair of bones form a hinge joint in the forelimb?
A
humerus and scapula
B
radius and ulna
C
scapula and radius
D
ulna and humerus
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25 What are the effects of drinking a large quantity of alcohol on the human body?
effects on the body
acts as a
reaction time
damages the
A
depressant
decreases
kidney
B
depressant
increases
liver
C
stimulant
increases
kidney
D
stimulant
decreases
liver
26 The diagram shows the structure of a bacterium.
In what way does this differ from a cell of a fungus?
A
The bacterium has a cell membrane.
B
The bacterium has a cell wall.
C
The bacterium has cytoplasm.
D
The bacterium has no true nucleus.
27 Bacteria are involved in the manufacture of which product?
A
alcohol
B
bread
C
yoghurt
D
penicillin
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28 These processes occur in living organisms in a food chain.
1
excretion
2
photosynthesis
3
respiration
Which processes would result in a loss of energy from a food chain?
A
1 and 2
B
1 and 3
C
2 only
D
3 only
29 Which statements are correct?
A
1
Energy cannot be recycled in food webs.
2
Producers make their own organic nutrients.
3
The Sun is the principal source of energy input to biological systems.
1, 2 and 3
B
1 and 2 only
C
1 and 3 only
D
2 and 3 only
30 The diagram shows the movement of carbon in the carbon cycle, in gigatonnes per year.
atmosphere
40
20
animals
10
125
plants
60
decomposers
0.1
fossil fuels
How many gigatonnes of carbon are moved by respiration each year?
A
120
B
125
C
130
D
255
31 What are the roles of the female mosquito and the malarial pathogen in the spread of malaria?
female mosquito
malarial pathogen
A
parasite
vector
B
parasite
parasite
C
vector
parasite
D
vector
vector
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32 Which human activity will make the greatest contribution to global warming?
A
cutting down established trees and replanting with young trees
B
cutting down established trees and using the cleared land to raise cattle
C
reducing the use of diesel fuel in public transport vehicles
D
using fewer insecticides and herbicides on farms
33 The diagram shows two onion plants.
flower
small
bulb
stalk
daughter plant
Using the information in the diagram, which statement about these onion plants is correct?
A
Daughter plants are produced from the small bulb by meiosis.
B
Daughter plants produced from the flower are genetically identical to the parent plant.
C
The plants can reproduce sexually and asexually.
D
Two parent plants are required for reproduction.
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34 Six bean seeds were soaked in cold water. Three of them were boiled and cooled. The boiled
and the non-boiled seeds were chopped up and then placed on the surface of agar jelly
containing starch.
After two days, all the seeds were removed and the jelly was tested with iodine solution.
The diagram shows the result of the experiment.
boiled seeds
non-boiled
seeds
key
yellow / brown
colour
blue / black
colour
position of chopped
seeds at start of
experiment
What is the explanation for the results with the non-boiled bean seeds?
A
They absorb iodine.
B
They absorb starch.
C
They contain acid.
D
They contain amylase.
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35 The diagram shows how the blood of a human fetus flows close to the mother’s blood in the
placenta.
mother’s
blood
blood of
fetus
X
Y
Which substances are present at X in higher concentrations than at Y?
A
carbon dioxide and glucose
B
carbon dioxide and urea
C
glucose and oxygen
D
glucose and urea
36 Why will antibiotics not cure a person with HIV infection?
A
Viruses are much smaller than bacteria.
B
Viruses are not affected by antibiotics.
C
Viruses are made from protein and DNA.
D
Viruses are not pathogens.
37 Chromosomes, DNA molecules and genes are pieces of inherited material with different sizes.
Which statement describes the relationship between these pieces of inherited material?
A
A chromosome is larger than a gene.
B
A gene is larger than a chromosome.
C
Multiple chromosomes make up a DNA molecule.
D
Multiple DNA molecules make up a gene.
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38 Earlobes can either be attached to the cheek or be ‘free’ (unattached). This characteristic is
controlled by a single gene.
The allele for attached earlobes is recessive.
The diagram shows the inheritance of attached earlobes in one family.
1
2
3
4
key
male with free earlobes
5
6
7
8
female with free earlobes
male with attached earlobes
female with attached earlobes
9
Which two individuals must be heterozygous for earlobe attachment?
A
1 and 7
B
3 and 4
C
5 and 8
D
6 and 9
39 Which statements about natural selection are correct?
natural selection can
lead to better adapted
species surviving
natural selection can
lead to extinction
of a species
natural selection can
lead to gene
mutations occurring
A
true
true
true
B
true
true
false
C
true
false
true
D
false
true
true
40 Which feature of a cereal crop cannot be improved by selective breeding alone?
A
ability to fix nitrogen
B
resistance to drought
C
tolerance to low temperatures
D
number of seeds produced
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